How to say it
LEN · non
ˈlɛn.ən
Unisex
Lennon
Cloak, or 'lover'
What it means
Anglicized Irish surname Ó Leannáin, 'descendant of Leannán' (a personal name from leann 'cloak' or 'sweetheart'). John Lennon of the Beatles is the inescapable English-language anchor.
Lennon is the anglicization of the Irish Ó Leannáin, 'descendant of Leannán.' The personal name Leannán came from leann, which carries two meanings: 'cloak' (an article of clothing) and 'sweetheart, lover.' John Lennon (1940-1980), founding Beatle and writer of Imagine, Strawberry Fields Forever, and Give Peace a Chance, is the inescapable English-language cultural anchor; his murder in December 1980 froze the surname in a particular kind of cultural memory. As a first name Lennon is recent and post-Lennon: rare before 2010, then climbing fast. It entered the US top 500 in 2017, mostly used unisex but leaning feminine in current US records. Single short forms aren't common.
How to spell Lennon
The standard spelling is Lennon. Common variants include Lenon, but Lennon is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #214 in 2025, currently #214 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #596 in 2016, currently #808 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
John Lennon (the Beatles, Imagine, his murder in 1980) is the inescapable English-language anchor; some families lean into the Beatles coding intentionally.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- John Lennon Beatles founder and songwriter (Lennon as surname), 1940-1980
Spelling variants
- Lenon
Names with the same feeling
See Lennon from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Lennon mean?
- Anglicized Irish surname Ó Leannáin, 'descendant of Leannán' (a personal name from leann 'cloak' or 'sweetheart'). John Lennon of the Beatles is the inescapable English-language anchor.
- What does Lennon mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Lennon means "Cloak, or 'lover'." Lennon is the anglicization of the Irish Ó Leannáin, 'descendant of Leannán.' The personal name Leannán came from leann, which carries two meanings: 'cloak' (an article of clothing) and 'sweetheart, lover.' John Lennon (1940-1980), founding Beatle and writer of Imagine, Strawberry Fields Forever, and Give Peace a Chance, is the inescapable English-language cultural anchor; his murder in December 1980 froze the surname in a particular kind of cultural memory. As a first name Lennon is recent and post-Lennon: rare before 2010, then climbing fast. It entered the US top 500 in 2017, mostly used unisex but leaning feminine in current US records. Single short forms aren't common.
- How do you pronounce Lennon?
- Lennon is pronounced ˈlɛn.ən. Say it as LEN-non, with the stress on the "len" syllable.
- How do you spell Lennon?
- The standard spelling is Lennon. Common spelling variants include Lenon.
- Is Lennon a boy or girl name?
- Lennon is used for both boys and girls.
- How popular is the name Lennon?
- Lennon ranked #214 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.